Why Did The Brewers Sign Mark Reynolds? I’m Asking For A Friend

Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Spoiler Alert: I’m not a fan of this signing so if I come across as biased, it’s probably because I am.

Mark Reynolds is a baseball player. That much is certain. What the jury still has to decide is what label to pin on him, because during his six-year career he’s been a little bit good and a little bit bad.

Reynolds is sort of like J.R. Smith of the New York Knicks. Smith either puts together a surprisingly excellent game, or draws negative attention to himself by doing things like this or this.

While Reynolds tends to avoid these antics, he shares the same night and day qualities as Smith. He is more than capable of hitting a ball 500 feet but also has the amazing ability to strike out 100 times in two minutes. Don’t believe me? Check it.

So if Reynolds, the man who struck out 223 times (MLB record) while also hitting 44 home runs in 2009, is such a bipolar player, why were the Milwaukee Brewers so keen on acquiring him?

Do you have an answer? Because I sure don’t.

The Brewers don’t care about the strikeouts as long as Reynolds hits his share of home runs, and I’m totally okay with that. Milwaukee has other players to count on for a high batting average. What I don’t like, however, is that the Brewers spent the entire offseason searching for a first baseman and ended up with a Juan Francisco clone that bats from the other side of the plate.

I’ve been beating this horse since Reynolds’ name was first mentioned in association with the Brewers and frankly, I’m getting sick of writing about it. But with my unbelievable ego and my need for everyone to agree with me, I must bang the drum again.

If the Brewers decide that Reynolds is the clear choice for the starting first base job, than I fully question the minds of Doug Melvin and Ron Roenicke. The only plausible way this move makes any remote sense is if they platoon.

In their careers, Reynolds is a .238 hitter against southpaws while Francisco is a .252 hitter against right-handed pitchers. They are both much, much worse against the alternative.

If the baseball gods are good, they’ll combine for a .240 average with 35 home runs and less than 200 strikeouts. But we’re talking about the Brewers and when have the baseball gods ever shown them mercy?